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How to Prepare for a Home Inspection
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s the day before the home inspection and you’re wondering how to prepare. The home inspector will be canvassing the home and you want the process to go smoothly. Whether you’re in a new construction home, an older home, or having an investment property inspected, here are a few things to do to prepare for the home inspection.
Make sure the power and utilities are turned on. A big part of a home inspection is checking to see everything is working properly. Tests will be done to inspect electrical, gas appliances, and plumbing systems, including water faucets, toilets, heating or air conditioning (depending on season), kitchen appliances, lights, and anything else that turns on. Having the utilities and pilot light turned on in advance will ensure that the inspection won’t have to be delayed or rescheduled.
Get the home in working order. Spend some time walking through the home and check things that you can fix in advance, like making sure light bulbs work (both inside and out), windows open and shut, window screens are installed, and that doors open and close properly.
Clean the house and make it easy to walk through. The home inspector will be following a checklist and even though cleanliness isn’t on the list, a clean home will make the inspection much easier. The home inspector will be going from room to room, opening doors, checking appliances, and working carefully to review conditions. Vacuuming and dusting can help with the ease of inspection. Even though a clean home is optional, it will make the process go smoother.
Move any obstacles in advance. If there is stuff to step over or obstacles in the way of maneuvering around the home, make sure to move these things in advance. Anything that is in front of the furnace, water heater, or air conditioner needs to be moved so the home inspector can get up close. Locations like the attic, crawl spaces, and attic will also need to be accessed and unlocked if necessary. Move furniture or clean closets so that the home inspector has a clear path.
Have your paper work of repairs or remodeling handy and show the home inspector. Just like if you were selling a car, the home buyer will be curious about the repairs and work that have already been done to the home. The home inspector will include information about these items, which is especially helpful when it comes to answering questions about upgrades to appliances, problem areas, or remodeling. The more information about what has been done, the better.
The home inspector will come prepared with everything that’s needed for the inspection, including tools and paperwork. Make sure the home is ready and prepared for a thorough inspection.
A new home is supposed to be free of maintenance and repairs right? Actually this popular belief is not true. New homes unfortunately can come with rushed deadlines and the use of substandard materials. It is therefore extremely important to have your house inspected by a professional Home Inspector.
You should always opt for a pre-purchase inspection to ensure your new home was built properly and the necessary safety measures were followed. After all, it would be quite frustrating to find some of your electrical outlets don’t work or your basement is susceptible to flooding during major rain storms.
Below is a list of common new home problems that your certified Home Inspector can help you discover prior to purchase, saving you a lot of money and headaches.
- Water seepage. If water is found in the basement, it could be a sign of improper grading; meaning the ground adjacent to the home isn’t sloping away from the home as it should. It could also be due to defective gutters and downspouts.
- Settling cracks in the foundation. Cracks in the foundation are often caused when a new home is built on a hill or landfill. Cracks can cause your foundation to shift and experience further cracking if they are not immediately repaired.
- Poor attic ventilation. Poor ventilation in the attic can lead to mould and mildew problems throughout the house.
- Poorly installed attic insulation. It is important to conserve energy and if the insulation in the attic is not properly installed, the rest of the house will lose heat in the winter and cold in the summer. Your home inspector will check that ventilation isn’t covered and vapour barriers are facing the right way.
- Poor fitted duct work in heating systems and air conditioning units will produce a lot more heat and cold air that only your wallet will feel! It is important to ensure ducts are fitted properly.
- Poor roof construction and workmanship. Your Home Inspector will inspect your roof to ensure flashing was properly installed and proper materials were used in the overall construction of your roof.
- Unprofessional brick work. Whether the mortar was poorly applied or other details were done amateurishly, this could be a sign of other issues you have not yet discovered!
